The apparent confirmation that Riyadh has delivered firm requirements to the UK marks a major step forward on the path to closing the long delayed fighter jet deal.

“What I will guarantee from [a] Marine Corps perspective is all the information, all the data will be duly analyzed and treated to get that airplane back into flight as soon as possible,” said Gen. Christopher Mahoney, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.

Prototypes of the new air defense system are due for qualification in 2027 so serial production can start in 2028, according to Germany’s military procurement arm BAAINBw.

At UMEX 2024 in Abu Dhabi, EDGE announced a number of deals and business moves, and in an interview its chairman promised further expansion as the company plays a “disruptive flavor of player.”

Chief Executive Officer Kathy Warden said that despite cost growth for the company’s Sentinel ICBM program, the company’s “near-term assumptions” of its sales and profitability are not “materially impacted.”